order of difficulty - Beethoven sonatas

[imapnotchr]

What are the 10 easiest Beethoven Sonatas after Op 49, 1 & 2?  Can you rank them in order of difficulty?

[bernhard]

Everyone seems to agree that op.49 no. 2 in the easiest, followed by op. 49 no. 1, followed by op. 79.

After that there is general disagreement.

Have a look here for a few opinions on this issue:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2748.msg23723.html#msg23723
(progressive difficulty list for all 32 sonatas)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[mikey6]

  someone needs to do a definative thread and leave it as a sticky so we get no more of these dam difficulty threads!!!!! there is NO answer, it depends on the individual!

[elias89]

someone needs to do a definative thread and leave it as a sticky so we get no more of these dam difficulty threads!!!!! there is NO answer, it depends on the individual!

I agree completely with you.... all those "most difficult piece"-threads are nonsense....

[pianistimo]

yes.  the op. 10 #3 was a bugger - but then, it has some humor too - and u can pass it off as a more difficult sonata in that if you play it well - everyone loves beethoven.  if you play it poorly - everyone hates beethoven.  i'm learning sfz doesn't mean crash bang - kill the piano.  in context .  so if ur playing it within the context of pp or p you just accent the notes - you don't kill them.  this is what makes beethoven loveable to me.  i hate hearing crash bang - strings broken = beethoven.  we take into consideration that he was hard of hearing at the end - but it only goes so far with a hearing pianist.

[imapnotchr]

Thank you Bernhard and pianistimo for your answers.  The link Bernhard posted is exactly what I was looking for but could not find. 

I am a newbie here and aparently, I should have asked this question on the teaching board.  I am a fairly new teacher, trying to organize my students progression.  My own lessons, growing up, were quite haphazard because I had to change teachers often, so I am trying not to punch holes in my own students repertoire, as was done to me!  So, to those who got upset at the question:  !

[bernhard]

Thank you Bernhard and pianistimo for your answers.  The link Bernhard posted is exactly what I was looking for but could not find. 

You are welcome.

Actually there is a couple of similar threads with more polemic on the difficulty of the sonatas, but I could not find them (yet). Try using the search function.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[bernhard]

someone needs to do a definative thread and leave it as a sticky so we get no more of these dam difficulty threads!!!!! there is NO answer, it depends on the individual!

Although I am a bit bored with this kind of thread myself, here is an interesting question. Let us assume that difficulty is indeed completely individual (something with which I actually agree).

Do you think it is possible that there is an individual somewhere for whom Op. 106 will be easier than op. 49 no. 2? (and if this individual is reading this could s/he possibly comment?)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[mikey6]

Although I am a bit bored with this kind of thread myself, here is an interesting question. Let us assume that difficulty is indeed completely individual (something with which I actually agree).

Do you think it is possible that there is an individual somewhere for whom Op. 106 will be easier than op. 49 no. 2? (and if this individual is reading this could s/he possibly comment?)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

This is obviously gonna be open to debate - but I can't see that happening.  Op.106 incorporates so much more of everything than op.49 no.2. 
It's a longer sonata so much more stamina is required
The fugue requires contrapuntal thought - most of op.49 is simply a LH accompanment using alberti bass
There are many more awkward configurations - the 1st movt hands crossing, the fugue, the 2nd mov. theme's tricky fast repeated chord, LONG trills and melody on top of it, 3part trills in bother hands.
The slow movt' requires a grand vision of pacing- something you could probably get away with in op.49 no.2 coz of it's slimmer proportions.
The control required of the slow movt do get a long line - something not used in the op.49 sonatas although used in op.10 no.3 (I think that's dmaj, that's the one I mean anyway)
The level of emotional involvement I think is on a much higher level that the 'easy sonatas'
The sheer amount of notes between the 2 sonatas
The presto and prestissimo markings in op.106 - I would assume that one could play slow but not fast and not the other way around

That's about all I can think of now, not having played the piece I'm sure there's more detailed things.

[monsieurrenard]

someone needs to do a definative thread and leave it as a sticky so we get no more of these dam difficulty threads!!!!! there is NO answer, it depends on the individual!

Actually, there is an answer. To be honest, I can't think of any individual who thinks the Hammerklavier is easier than the Moonlight.

If he's lookin to play one of the easier sonatas, there is obviously an answer to his question, since we all know that "op. 109" is the wrong one.

[airasia]

Actually, there is an answer. To be honest, I can't think of any individual who thinks the Hammerklavier is easier than the Moonlight.

If he's lookin to play one of the easier sonatas, there is obviously an answer to his question, since we all know that "op. 109" is the wrong one.

Yeah I agree, I'm sick of these people saying "nothing is more difficult than anything else cause it depends on the individual."  Just don't answer the thread if you don't know.  There are GRADE levels remember?  The people asking about difficulty do so because they want to know a general consensus (which there always is), not a single person's opinion, before they start playing certain pieces. 

[mikey6]

There's obviously an answer between the extreme diffculties of the sonatas - op.106 to op.49 say, but if one goes any deeper than the obvious, it's not goin to be the same for every person.  So a general consensus still is not going to be helpful - play through the music and see which one feels comfortable or if you want a challenge do op.106.
but do as you will.....

[airasia]

There's obviously an answer between the extreme diffculties of the sonatas - op.106 to op.49 say, but if one goes any deeper than the obvious, it's not goin to be the same for every person.  So a general consensus still is not going to be helpful - play through the music and see which one feels comfortable or if you want a challenge do op.106.
but do as you will.....

I agree with that as well, but i'm saying there are some people that are new to piano music  that just want to know the general consensus of difficulties because they've never studied or have a teacher to ask.